The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-12-01
Politics and Architecture.
From the Galveston News.

From the Galveston news.
Treasurer Lubbock, member of he
state capitol board, declared at a meeting
of that official family, that he would never,
never agree to the employment of re-
publican architect to advise the board
with regard to the alleged instability of the
dome. Congressman Grain has, however,
recommended the appointment of Arch
itect Bell, who was the republican chief
federal supervising architect selected by
President Arthur. Mr.. Grain endorses
Architect Bell as honest and competent.
Governor Ross telegraphed to the repub-
lican governors of Illinois and Iowa
to learn the standing of Arch
itect Bell. The governor of Iowa in
dorsed Mr.. Bell, but the Illinois governo T
was not possessed of personal knowledge
of his capacity and character. Governor
Ross and Congressman Grain seem to
believe that republican convictions and
professional ability may be united in an
architect. Mr.. Lubbock thinks that a re-
publican can not be an honest and COM
petent architect, or Mr.. Lubbock is a
demagogue. If the architect recon-
mended most highly for competency and
integrity should prove to be republican,
Mr.. Lubbock would reject him and employ
one who could not serve the state so well
as the republican would have served it, or
else Mr.. Lubbock believes that the recon-
mendations are unreliable and that no re-
publ lean can be honest and efficient. If he
discredits all testimony as to honesty
and capacity he may himself be
pursuing strictly and honestly the
course his experience in public life sug-
gests, but if he be influenced by a desire
to pose before the country as blind and
prejudiced partisan, willing to reject for
the state the services of men most valua
BILE to the state and jeopardize the public
interests by employing inferior profess
sional services, he is not a sound demo.
crat himself nor a safe counselor. Doubt
less, the supervising architect and build
ing commissioners are, in the treasurer's
estimation, sound democrats. Every
member of the capital board is an alleged
democrat. But they have all together
succeeded in reaching a stage in con-
struction when the democratic structure
is suspected of an inherent tendency to
crumble and fall. Now, the people OF
Texas are not convinced that the safety OF
the democratic party requires the accept
ance of further defective work upon the
capitol, nor that the safety of the building
depends upon the employment of a par
tisan democratic architect. 1t is possible
that partisan appeal may create stil
and confusion, in which the responsibility
for the present trouble will be lost sight of
for the time. 1t is possible that some
thing may bs gained by diversion OF
this character. The treasurer is the
| sole representative of the old boards
that adopted the plans, made the
contract and supervised the work the past
six years. The new board is confronted
with the mistakes and defects for which
the OLD boards are responsible. The treas.
urer's position, then, it is easy to see, is
embarrassing. How ell things can be &C
commodated, all blame averted, all re-
sponsibility shifted or lost sight of, is the
problem for the treasurer to solve. If a
republican architect is employed he washes
his hands of all responsibility. Then get
the middle before the state convention
Whitewash the patriots by resolution. If
necessary, adopt a plank declaring the
employment of Mr.. Bell or Mr.. Post I'M
democratic. The politician builders re-
sources are inexhaustible.